Traveling to The Sternberg Clinic

“If you can travel to San Francisco to dine at a fine restaurant or see a show, you can certainly travel to San Francisco to improve your life!”
― Patient at The Sternberg Clinic

Why Travel for Pilonidal Surgery?

Though it may be tempting to consider treatment by a surgeon local to your area, certain conditions require specialized expertise that may not be available nearby. To get truly healed, you may have to travel for surgery.

Pilonidal disease, often inaccurately referred to as a pilonidal cyst, is one such condition. This seemingly straightforward issue can sometimes necessitate the intervention of a specialized surgeon, particularly one who excels in performing the Pilonidal RAF (Rotation and Advancement Flap)/Cleft Lift Procedure. If you’re dealing with pilonidal disease and considering surgery, it’s crucial to select a surgeon with extensive experience in this particular procedure, even if you have to travel for surgery.

The Pilonidal RAF (Rotation and Advancement flap)/Cleft Lift Procedure is widely regarded as the most effective treatment for pilonidal disease, offering superior outcomes compared to traditional methods. Choosing a skilled surgeon who specializes in this procedure can significantly impact the success of your treatment and your overall recovery.

Information for Your Trip to The Sternberg Clinic

Hotels in San Francisco are expensive and can be in short supply if you arrive during a large convention.  We recommend staying in the city rather than by the airport so that you are closer to our office and the Presidio Surgery Center and can experience all that San Francisco has to offer. Staying at an AIRBNB or VRBO is always an option but there are also many wonderful hotels to stay in.  Some great choices are:

Please think twice before renting a car for travel in San Francisco

San Francisco is an exciting but congested city. Driving and finding parking can be frustrating and anxiety-provoking. Parking is expensive. Unless you are planning a trip outside of the city during your stay, please don’t plan to rent a car. San Francisco has a great deal of traffic, and there is always tremendous road work. You would be better off taking a car service like Lyft or Uber. If you don’t have the apps for Uber, Lyft, or Waymo (yes, we are the US center of driverless cabs) on your smartphone, please download them from your smartphone App Store and enter your credit card information. Everyone in San Francisco gets around by these cab services. If you do rent a car for out of town excursions, please don’t leave anything exposed in your car! No luggage, purses, gym bags, sunglasses….. San Francisco has the unfortunate badge of the “break my car window and grab my bag” capital of north America. We don’t want you to be a victim.

If you’re traveling for surgery to San Francisco, you might as well enjoy the City and Bay Area’s many offerings. We recommend arriving a few days before your surgery to take full advantage of the area. Should you choose to stay for a few days after surgery, a few museum visits are certainly doable.

Activities

  • Tour Alcatraz – the famous jail in the Bay. Home to Al Capone…. Reservations for the boat are required well in advance
  • Tour Muir Woods – a beautiful redwood grove 15 minutes north of San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge. Car required, Parking lot reservation required
  • Walk the Golden Gate Bridge
  • Visit Golden Gate Park, see the Conservatory of Flowers, sample tea in the Tea Garden, lounge on Hippie Hill, and visit the bison!  The De Young Museum is a gem, too!
  • Walk on Crissy Field and the gardens at the Presidio Tunnel Tops
  • Explore the Presidio and Lands End parks — one of the few national parks contained within a city
  • Visit the much-photographed “” Painted Ladies” Victorian homes in Alamo Square
  • See the San Francisco Giants play baseball in one of the best ballparks in the US.
  • View the City and the bay from the top of Twin Peaks!
  • Go to a Warriors basketball game in the spectacular Chase Stadium.

Museums

Visit our world-class museums:

Dining

It isn’t easy to provide a comprehensive list of the best restaurants this eating mecca offers, but we can list a few of the go-tos. Reservations are usually required. We also recommend using the Yelp app to find restaurants, make reservations, or get on the same day waiting list.

Neighborhoods

  • Hayes Valley (great restaurants)
  • Union Square is known for high-end shopping.
  • Civic Center (City Hall and the Asian Art Museum)
  • Pacific Heights – beautiful homes, Filmore Street restaurants, and shopping
  • Union Street – restaurants and shopping
  • Chestnut Street – restaurants and shopping
  • North Beach – Italian flavor, restaurants and shopping
  • Fisherman’s Warf – touristy restaurants, sea lions, aquarium, large Ferris Wheel
  • Marina/Chrissy Field/Tunnel Top – coastal walks
  • China Town — the original and largest in the United States

How long do I need to stay in San Francisco?

Your surgery will likely be on a Wednesday. You will see Dr. Sternberg in the Office the day before surgery as well as the day after surgery. Therefore, we recommend that you stay until Friday morning if you are flying or have a long drive home. If you live more than 20mins from our office please plan to spend the night after surgery in San Francisco. Sitting for a long drive right after surgery will increase the risk of complications. If the flight or drive is shorter than two hours, you are welcome to leave on Thursday after your post-op appointment.

Can I fly with the drain?

Yes you can! You do NOT need a special note to fly with the drain. Make sure to wear comfortable clothes and tight fitting underwear for your flight. Please make sure do not sit on the drain for the duration of your travel. If your flight is long, get up and move every hour. This will limit your sitting time and promote good blood flow to the area.

Do I need to pick up my prescriptions before I travel to SF?

If you are traveling from outside California, you will pick up your perscriptions after your pre-op appointment at the Pharmcacy located in our office building.

If you are traveling from inside California, your prescriptions will be called in the Friday before surgery to the pharmacy you provided in your new patient paperwork.

Plan Your Visit

Three days in San Francisco

Here’s a typical 3-day itinerary for a patient traveling to The Sternberg Clinic for surgery from outside of the San Francisco Bay Area. We recommend you stay in a hotel, Airbnb, or other short-term residential location so you can recover comfortably after surgery.

Day 1: Arrive and Settle In

Drive or fly in to San Francisco at least one day before your scheduled surgery and meet with Dr. Sternberg and his staff in his office for an in-person consultation. Settle in, explore the city, and sample some of the great local food offerings. The neighborhood near Dr. Sternberg’s office, Fillmore Street in Pacific Heights, has some of the best dining offerings in the city.

Day 2: Outpatient Surgery

Arrive at the scheduled time for your operation at the surgery center. You will meet with one of our preferred anesthesiologists who will be happy to answer any questions that you have. Please keep your cell phone on after leaving the surgery center with your caretaker. Dr. Sternberg will call you several hours after surgery to check on you.

Day 3 : Rest and Relaxation

Meet with Dr. Sternberg and his team the day after surgery. During this visit, he will go over the drain care with you and your caretaker. Some patients choose to travel home later this day, but it’s always better if you can to spend a few days in San Francisco resting and doing some gentle walking.

How to Become a Patient

If you’re looking for a surgeon to treat your Pilonidal Disease, read more about how to become a patient at The Sternberg Clinic, and contact our office staff to schedule an appointment.

Click the image below for The Sternberg Clinic Exploration Map of San Francisco!

wpChatIcon